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HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - Northern Kentucky University’s Liz Holmes has been selected to the NCAA Division II All-America first team, the American Volleyball Coaches Association announced Monday. Holmes, a senior middle hitter and a product of Cincinnati Mercy High School, finished her career as NKU’s all-time leader with 1,850 kills. Holmes earned Great Lakes Valley Conference Player of the Year honors this fall and topped the league in hitting percentage (.432), kills (4.55 kpg) and points (5.37). The 5-foot-10 Holmes was named the Great Lakes Region Player of the Year and became the first NKU player to earn AVCA All-America honors three times. In 2005 and '06, Holmes earned honorable mention All-America accolades from the AVCA. She is just the third Norse standout to be selected to the All-America first team, joining Jessica Buroker (1999) and Kristin Koralewski (2003). Holmes was also named to the Daktronics NCAA Division II All-America first team this season. Holmes finished second in NKU history in block assists (291), sixth in solo blocks (63) and seventh in digs (1,191). She recorded 555 kills this season, the fifth-highest single-season total in Norse history. Two other NKU players - Kristina Eisenmenger and Natalie Forbes - were named honorable mention All-Americans by the AVCA. Eisenmenger, a junior right-side hitter and a graduate of Notre Dame Academy, finished No. 2 in the GLVC in hitting percentage (.392) and No. 4 in kills (4.15 kpg). She also joined the NKU 1,000-kills club this season and will enter her senior year with 1,276 career kills. Forbes, a junior setter and a Highlands High School graduate, directed the NKU offense to the top of the GLVC statistics in hitting percentage at .296. She averaged 13.52 assists per game and recorded 14 double-doubles this season. NKU posted a 26-9 record this season and advanced to the NCAA Division II Tournament for the first time since 2003. The Norse were nationally ranked most of the season and finished third in the GLVC East Division. 2007 AVCA NCAA Division II All-Americans (First Team) Melissa Bartlett, Hillsdale, OH, Sr. Vicky Braegelmann, Minnesota Duluth, Opp., Sr. Erin Clark, Tampa, MB, Sr. Erin Contons, Southwest Minnesota State, OH, Sr. Katelen Dixon, Tampa, OH, Sr. Jessica Granados, Cal State-San Bernardino, Opp., Jr. Liz Holmes, Northern Kentucky, MH, Sr. Tessa Jones, Washburn, Opp., Sr. Maggie McNamara, Concordia-St. Paul, S, So. Courtney Schneider, Western Washington, DS/L, Sr. Margeaux Sinibaldi, Tampa, DS/L, Sr. Kari Wolford, Minnesota Duluth, OH, Sr.
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